Feb. 20 will be a big day in the Hamilton School District, as voters will go to the polls to decide on a $58.9 million referendum.

The Hamilton School Board agreed to go to referendum in November. Voters will be faced with two questions:

The first asks voters to approve $57.2 million for facility projects, including a $42.9 million new intermediate school. Fifth-graders from each of the district's four elementary schools, along with sixth-graders from Templeton Middle School, would be moved there. Other projects are $9.6 million for the addition of 15 classrooms at the high school and $4.9 million to renovate the applied engineering and technology areas in the school.

The second question asks voters to approve $1.5 million for continuing operational costs for the new intermediate school that isn't covered by additional state aid given for increased enrollment. Operational costs are required by state law to be listed as separate questions from facility projects in a referendum.

If approved, the tax rate would increase by $1.37 per $1,000 per valuation. The owner of a $300,000 home would see an increase of $411 for schools on the tax bill.

Increased enrollment

Since 1999, the school has seen an increase of 1,090 students. Enrollment is at 4,860 students for the 2017-18 school year, and the growth trend is expected to continue.

Since 2002, the district had managed to finance five other projects — including the Hamilton Athletic Center and classroom additions at Marcy and Woodside elementary schools, and Hamilton High School — via its operational budget to help accommodate some of the enrollment growth.

This time, according to district spokeswoman Denise Lindberg, enrollment has increased to a point where additions to the schools won't help.

"We're not able to pay for a new school out of our existing operational budget," Lindberg said. "We were able to do that with some smaller additions, but we can't do that with a whole school."

The additional classrooms at the high school will help, as the 10-classroom addition from 2014 is already full. Nine teachers don't have their own classrooms.

Applied engineering, technology areas

The high school's applied engineering and technology areas is another area of focus, according to Lindberg. Classrooms and equipment in those areas date to 1962. The current layout, where computers are in the same area as the lab and shop, makes it hard on the computers due to the dust and particles.

"The goal here is to create classroom areas where they can do the learning and then having the lab areas where they can apply what they've learned," Lindberg said.

The district hopes the changes would allow the program to modify its approach from a traditional one to a design one. Instead of students getting a list of materials and instructions on how to put something together, the focus would put more of an emphasis on identifying a problem and solutions to it, creating a plan and then putting the solution together. This approach would enable students to obtain a broader understanding of the situation and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the process.

"What we're finding is that's the expectation of the work place. Right now, we really don't have the facility or space to make that kind of change," Lindberg said. "We can do it somewhat, but the renovation expansion of the applied engineering and technology area would allow that to happen at a greater level."

Community growth doesn't equal more money

In advance of the referendum, the district has fielded questions about the costs associated with the projects, Lindberg said.

Lindberg said one common misunderstanding residents have is thinking that the district gets more money because more homes are being built and more people are moving into the area. Instead, what matters is enrollment.

"It doesn't matter how many people move into the community," she said. "The district doesn't get more revenue because more property is in the community. The district gets more revenue when our enrollment increases.

"I think that's a big piece that people think 'Oh, you're getting a lot of money because of all the growth, therefore you've got enough money to do these projects without going to referendum.' But the finances don't work that way for school districts," she added. "We only get money when we get students, and we are increasing in students. But basically, the additional money that we get when we get more students basically just covers the cost of the classroom teacher. It doesn't cover the cost of the other employees that are required to operate a school. So we have to go to referendum."

Projected costs

Lindberg said another common question is about the project timeline, and whether it couldn't be delayed.

But projections show there could be as much as a 5-percent increase in construction costs due to labor shortages, potential material shortages and subcontractors capacity in the next couple years.

Costs could increase by $2.1 million for building the intermediate school and by $500,000 for the high school classroom additions.

Plus, there would be anticipated increases in interest rates.

"In terms of timing, now is a better time rather than to do it later," Lindberg said.

Open house

The district is planning one more open house session to answer questions about the referendum, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in the large group area in the back of Hamilton High School.

Residents can meet with those who have worked on aspects of the project such as architects and contractors.

District Superintendent Paul Mielke will give a brief overview of the referendum at 7 p.m. Mielke and Business Services Assistant Superintendent Bryan Ruud will be available to answer questions.